Tag: missions

June 18 (UPI) -- New research suggests certain cyanobacteria could thrive on Mars. The microbes could even be used to provide future space colonies with oxygen. "This might sound like science fiction, but space agencies and private companies around the world are actively trying to turn this aspiration into reality in the not-too-distant future," Elmars Krausz, chemistry professor at Australian National University, said in a news release. "Photosynthesis could theoretically be harnessed with these types of organisms to create air for humans to breathe on Mars." Cyanobacteria are the only photosynthetic prokaryotes capable of producing oxygen. They're the most abundant ground of bacteria on the planet and have colonized Earth since as early as 2.5 billion years ago. Several cyanobacteria h...

Dec. 28 (UPI) -- For astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists, space enthusiasts and others with an eye for the night sky, 2018 is expected to bring a variety of exciting developments.With dozens of space missions and expeditions set to get under way in 2018, launch complexes around the globe will be busy. U.S. launch pads will be especially busy, as SpaceX looks to launch even more rockets than it did in 2017.Below are eight exciting developments to watch for in 2018.The world's most powerful rocketAfter a record-breaking slate of launches in 2017, SpaceX is looking to kick 2018 off with a monumental blast. The aerospace outfit plans to take its Falcon Heavy rocket for an inaugural test flight in January.The Falcon Heavy is essentially a trio of Falcon 9 cores bound together. Th...

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- NASA is considering possible missions a comet and Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The space agency selected the two concept finalists on Wednesday.The selected missions were two of 12 proposals submitted as part NASA's New Frontiers program."This is a giant leap forward in developing our next bold mission of science discovery," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, said in a news release. "These are tantalizing investigations that seek to answer some of the biggest questions in our solar system today."The Comet Astrobiology Exploration Sample Return mission, or CAESAR concept, proposes a NASA-funded visit to 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the comet visited by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft and Philae lande...